Officials say five friends who were with Oscar Grant when he was fatally shot have settled a federal lawsuit against the agency

I was the use-of-force expert for former BART Officer Johannes Mehserle, who was charged with first-degree murder, then convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

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OAKLAND, Calif. — Officials say five friends who were with Oscar Grant when he was fatally shot by a San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit police officer have settled a federal lawsuit against the agency.

BART said Jack Bryson Jr., Nigel Bryson, Michael Greer, Carlos Reyes and Fernando Anicete Jr. will split $175,000 as part of the settlement approved by the BART board on May 8.

The men filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in 2009 claiming excessive force. Their attorney, John Burris, said Tuesday the men are relieved the case is over.

The men had been detained on an Oakland train station platform with Grant when he was shot and killed by then-BART police officer Johannes Mehserles, who was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the New Year's Day 2009 shooting.

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